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HomeMy WebLinkAboutIR 7724 INFORMAL REPORT TO CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS No. =24 ,VktATE% W"Wr To the Mayor and Members of the City Council May 25, 1893 IN. Subject: 1993 TEXAS URBAN FORESTRY AWARDS FOR FORT WORTH PARK AND RECREATION DEPARTMENT AND RE- LEAF TARRANT COUNTY On May 21, 1993, the City of Fort Worth Park and Recreation Department received a Texas Urban Forestry Award for their work and partnership with Re-Leaf Tarrant County, a non-profit volunteer tree interest group. The Forestry Section was recognized for their help in developing the "Neighborwoods" and "Greenstreets" programs. These programs offer low cost trees from area nurseries to neighborhood groups for various beautification projects. The Park and Recreation Department's Forestry Section helped distribute the trees and supervised community service volunteers planting trees along the parkway. The Forestry section joined forces with the staff at Village Creek Wastewater Treatment Plant to establish a community tree farm. The project was in response to the Water Department's commitment to the beneficial reuse of treated wastewater and wastewater solids. The plant provided a site, compost, and seedling trees for the project with Re-Leaf securing donated pots and volunteer labor. Area Rotary Clubs are also using the facility to grow trees for their Rota-Tree program. These trees are made available to neighborhood and community groups for various tree planting projects. In addition, Re-Leaf Tarrant County will receive an award as the state's outstanding civic organization. Countless volunteer hours were devoted to helping make the "Greenstreets" and "Neighborwoods" programs a success. Their public education programs in area schools has been instrumental in creating a new awareness of urban forestry. Re-Leaf continues to provide volunteer support on various tree planting projects. This partnership between the public and private sector has proven to be very beneficial to the citizens of Fort Worth. The end result has been to stabilize the decline of the urban forest. City forces had only been able to replace 30% to 50% of the trees that were removed in any given year. Tree planting by Re-Leaf volunteers has doubled this amount and will ensure that future generations will enjoy the benefits of a healthy urban forest. Attached for your information is a copy of a press announcement issued to the media. Should you have any questions, please contact Libby Watson,Assistant City Manager at extension 6140. OFFICIAL RECORD ETA CITY SECRETARY bee rr� my SECRETARY City Manager Fl. WORTHt.1EX. Attachment ISSUED BY THE CITY MANAGER FORT WORTH,TEXAS FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: TEXAS URBAN FORESTRY AWARDS The Fort Worth Park and Recreation Department and ReLeaf Tarrant County each received a Texas Urban Forestry Award presented at the annual conference on May 21st in Austin, Texas . The Parks Department ' s Forestry Section was recognized in the category of local government for cities with populations over 250 ,000 . The Forestry section worked very closely with ReLeaf. Tarrant County in developing the "Neighborwoods" and "Greenstreets" programs . Diana Kern , ReLeaf Coordinator explained, "The Forestry section was responsible for "planting and distributing over 900 trees through these programs and was instrumental in helping to establish ReLeaf as a viable organization. " Ms . Kern explained that the - program was developed to promote tree planting in neighborhoods . The trees are purchased at area nurseries from a selection of recommended street trees . City Forester Harold Pitchford stated, "The success of the "Neighborwoods" and "Greenstreets" programs have helped stabilize the decline of our urban forest . Programs like these will ensure that future generations will inherit a well managed and sustainable urban forest . " This is the third time since 1989 that the department has received the award. Past awards were given for their programs in area schools and the design of the Forest Park/Zoo parking lot . Park and Recreation Director. Richard Zavala noted, that Fort Worth 's urban forestry program will have significant imvact on determining this years National Cold Medal. Award winner . The Department is, one of four cities be.inq considered for the award that is sponsored by the National Sports Foundation . ReLeaf Tarrant County was 'presented an award as Outstanding Civic Organization . ReLeaf was formed three years ago after much of Fort Worth' s urban forest was destroyed by the May 1989 storm. Their concern over this great loss led the all-volunteer group to develop several programs including neighborhood tree Planting projects , public education, youth activities and special events . They recently i oi n ed forces with the Village ("reek Wastewater Treatment Plant to establish a community tree farm at the treatment facility. By collecting donated pots and using compost produced at the Plant the groups have grown and distributed over 1 , 400 trees . Most of these trees have been given to neighbor- hoods for various beautification projects . Plant Superintendent Robert McMillan explained ,o "The City was selected by the Water Environment Federation as one of seven cities nationwide to nartici'Pate in a Program to promote the beneficial reuse of 001** treated wastewater and wastewater solids for qrowi.nq trees . The Water Department and ReLeaf Tarrant County have wor�mu­r.-"�t!+iter. Una RECORD CITY SECRETARY FT. WORTH, TEX.- to make this project a reality. We are extremely proud to be able to assist communities in improving the environment through the planting of trees . " ReLeaf 's efforts have not gone unnoted by state officials . Larry Schaapveld, Urban Forester with the Texas Forest Service remarked , "It is ver'y unusual for a group as Young as ReLeat to be recognized as the state' s outstanding civic group . The citizens of Fort Worth and Tarrant County are fortunate to have a group such as this dedicated to protecting and preserving the urban forest . OFFICIAL RECORD CITY SECRETARY FT. WORTH, TEX.